Marshall County Health Department Food Safety Information

The Food Service Program strives to ensure a safe food supply for the community. This is done by conducting routine inspections, investigating foodborne illnesses and food service establishment complaints, providing food safety education and responding to food emergency incidents. The program also collaborates with other state, federal and local agencies to ensure public health is served in the community

More than 200 known diseases are transmitted through food. The causes of foodborne illnesses include viruses, bacteria, parasites, toxins, metals and prions. Symptoms of foodborne illnesses range from mild gastroenteritis to life-threatening neurologic, hepatic, and renal syndromes.

There are approximately 178 permitted food service establishments in Marshall County. These include restaurants, daycares, grocery stores and schools. The Food Service Program also conducts temporary food establishment inspections; most of which occur during local festivals and events.

A statewide mobile food unit is basically a food establishment on wheels or otherwise mobile. These operations are permitted by the local county health department and permitted operations pay one yearly fee and may operate statewide. These units are to contact the health department in each county where they operate for an inspection and units may not remain at one location longer than 14 consecutive days.

For more information and applications, please contact your local county health department.